10.4.12

HEROES OF THE CRUCIBLE: JACK KARNEHM

Very few lines of snooker commentary are remembered. Indeed, many would argue that most are better forgotten.

Ted Lowe’s hushed, concerned ‘no’ when Steve Davis missed the black against Dennis Taylor stands out, but the best known sentence uttered in a snooker commentary box came courtesy of Jack Karnehm.

The son of a Czechoslavkian baron, Karnehm’s own World Championship record was not to be envied. In three appearances in the qualifiers he failed to win a single frame in the 28 he played.

Billiards was his sport. He won the UK Championship at the three ball game in 1980 and lost in two world finals.

Indeed, he appeared in one of Roger Lee’s heritage room DVDs with John Pulman, in which he stated he always made a 500 break at billiards before breakfast.

“Yes, Jack,” said the laconic Pulman, “but you don’t eat until two in the afternoon.”

Karnehm had a great voice for commentary. Never demonstrative or intrusive, he kept his comments to a minimum, as was the style in the 1980s.

In 1983 he found himself commentating on the opening session of Cliff Thorburn’s second round match against Terry Griffiths at the Crucible.

At the start of the fourth frame, Thorburn fluked a red and so began the dramatic build up to his 147.

As Cliff stood over the final black, poised to make history a ball away from making the World Championship’s first maximum break, Karnehem looked down from the box and said simply: “Good luck, mate.”

There was no hype, no talking over the moment. He just put into words what everyone was thinking.

The addition of “mate” was the masterstroke. It gave the impression, rightly or not, that this happy band of snooker folk were pals, grateful that they had been given a moment in the spotlight after years of toil before the BBC showed interest in covering the game and thus happy that one of their own was about to experience such elation.

The previous year, Karnehm had also commentated on the classic semi-final between Alex Higgins and Jimmy White, one of many golden moments to which he lent his distinctive voice.

Karnehm’s other crucial contribution to the World Championship was in manufacturing the famous ‘upside down’ spectacles sported by Dennis Taylor.

Taylor was much mocked for his appearance but, of course, had the last laugh. Indeed, still is.

Karnehm’s commentary, like that of Lowe, was of its time. Television has changed. Doubtless many would say not for the better.

Karnehm commentated for the BBC from 1978 until 1993. He died in 2002 at the age of 85.

20 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Karnehm, Lowe, Everton...the commentators in the old days only spoke when they knew they were actually enhancing the story of the match. These days a lot of them just gabble on and have a loose grasp of grammar.

mr my apologies, the guy who thinks every double is a cross double, is the worst of the bunch.

daves good.

the mike guy and joe are comedy genuis, but unfortunately they dont mean it and im not wanting to laugh at them while watching snooker.

sure dave, or someone else, will defend them, but if anyone on here actually watches back to hear how often they speak and how often what they say is true or turns out a complete stab in the dark guess...its embarrasing.

(ps, im dyslexic so would rather not be given a lesson by the resident english teach on here)

Karnehm's "Good luck mate" to Cliff Thorburn, when he was on the brink of the 147, will always stay in my mind.

Jack told me that Cliff was his favourite player and he had a framed photograph of him on the wall of his snooker room at home. He couldn't stand Alex Higgins though (I had to bite my tongue at this because I'm an Alex fan)

Strange to think that he said that although he commentated and coached it, snooker wasn't his game as he was a billiards man.

Good to see Wattana get a victory yesterday, a tricky opponent in Li Yan had to be negotiated. The Thai has a decent chance of making it to Sheffield, a possible final round clash with Ryan Day is by no means a difficult one. Day looks woefully out of sorts this season.

Luca Brecel seems to have the bit between his teeth, very impressed by his demolition of Ian McCulloch.

More coverage isn't the same as more choice Jamie. Generally I'd agree with you that in terms of snooker viewing it's better than it used to be, but outside of snooker I don't find myself spoilt for choice. More channels doesn't necessarily mean more top writers and producers making more high quality programmes.

I think Jamie makes a fair point. If you listen to some of Lowe's commentaries on Youtube, it's difficult to see how he's "adding to the picture" as many like to say. Often he would come out with banalities such as "and he's got this red into the centre pocket" in his overly dramatic voice when it was bloody obvious what shot he was about to play. That said, I enjoyed his commentary at the time but it's been overtaken by the passage of time. Nowadays, not just in snooker, the emphasis is on technical knowledge and that's where some of the oldies fell short.

Colin 11.46....Remember it well.I'm sure it was the Rothman's 1986.Either during his match with Hendry, the semi with dodgy Francisco or maybe the final v Sexy Rexy.Karnehm was fantastic. Everything he said was all observed and worth listening to.Much missed.